All study abroad and exchange units

Unit synopsis

This foundational genomics unit examines the different types of molecular lesions encountered in human diagnostics and provides insight into how to select the most appropriate diagnostic platform to detect them.  You will learn about how to interpret results in order to communicate them to colleagues and referring physicians. Clinicians requesting and/or interpreting genetic test results for their patients will become familiar with these concepts to improve clinical practice. Students are required to verify their identification in this unit by displaying their student identification card during the assessment 1 oral presentation. Authentication of learning and verification of identity may be assessed by an online viva with the unit coordinator. 

Unit synopsis

This foundational genomics unit examines the key molecular technologies that can be applied to clinical diagnosis and human genetics research. Examples of different types of molecular lesions encountered in human genomics are used to demonstrate the selection of the most appropriate diagnostic platform.  You will learn about how to interpret results in order to communicate them to colleagues and referring physicians. Clinicians who interpret genetic test results for their patients will become familiar with these concepts to improve clinical care. Students are required to verify their identification in this unit by displaying their student identification card at the beginning of their assessment 2 oral presentation.

Unit synopsis

This foundational unit addresses the fundamentals of human genetics in a clinical context. You will learn how to evaluate clinical genetics cases and communicate the genetic basis of pathology to colleagues. This unit enables you to become comfortable, competent and confident with analysing human pedigrees and researching the clinical and molecular aspects of condition present in the family tree. Clinicians who are requesting and/or interpreting genetic test results will become familiar with these concepts to communicate with colleagues and care for patients. The unit embeds teaching of academic skills including the use of genetic and library databases.

Unit synopsis

This foundational unit addresses the core concepts, mechanisms, and consequences of molecular and chromosomal aberrations. You will be given real world case studies including genetic diseases that impact Indigenous Australians such as Machado Joseph Disease (MJD) and the mitochondrial disorder MELAS. You will be given specific examples where racial stereotyping and lack of Indigenous genomic reference sequence has delayed diagnosis of a genetic disease. This is an introductory unit and the knowledge and skills developed in this unit are relevant to core diagnostic genomic units and electives. Students are required to verify their identity in this unit by displaying their student identification card during the assessment 1 oral presentation. Authentication of learning and verification of identity may be assessed by an online viva with the unit coordinator.   

Unit synopsis

This unit provides high-level training in human cytogenomics and develops the skills to identify and appropriately investigate chromosomal abnormalities. This unit will enable scientists to apply critical thinking to interpret the clinical significance and prognosis of chromosomal abnormalities and to apply this reasoning to drive a wholistic, genome-wide approach to patient management. Clinical and research scientists working in cytogenomic laboratories will become knowledgeable of some of the germline and somatic conditions which are commonly referred to diagnostic cytogenomic laboratories and the pipelines using the technology currently employed in diagnostic cytogenomic laboratories to investigate these genomic abnormalities.  

Unit synopsis

This unique interdisciplinary unit is specifically designed for students to gain in-depth perspectives of the ethical implications of genetics and genomics including the additional considerations which apply to genetic testing related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. In this unit, you will explore the ethical, legal, and social implications surrounding the practice of clinical genetics, medical testing, and scientific research. By examining these crucial issues, you will gain valuable insights into the complexities that govern the field and understand how you can contribute to shaping responsible and equitable practices in genetics.

Unit synopsis

This unit provides high-level training in human molecular diagnostic genomics covering the knowledge in genomics that scientists and clinicians working in genomics need to have. This includes medical conditions that are commonly referred to clinical laboratories, genetic testing required to confirm diagnoses, and the interpretation of results.

Unit synopsis

All aspects of laboratory management are examined including, compliance, accreditation, regulation, safety and quality control. This unit covers governance practices required for genomic scientists and clinicians working in laboratory senior positions.

Unit synopsis

Unit synopsis

Fundamental and advanced concepts in cell and molecular biology are covered in order to fully appreciate the principles of disease pathogenesis, and diagnostic methodologies in order to apply them. Genomic scientists need to know how to interpret molecular test results in order to communicate them to colleagues and referring physicians. Clinicians requesting and/or interpreting genetic test results for their patients also need to be familiar with these molecular biological concepts.

Unit synopsis

Environmental health, OHS and environmental management professionals are required to plan, conduct, oversee and/or evaluate risk assessments as part of their work. It is becoming increasingly important for organisations to undertake risk assessments to meet compliance obligations and to work towards longer term health, safety and environmental sustainability goals. This unit explores a range of risk assessment methods available for the assessment of occupational safety, occupational health, environmental management and environmental health risks.

Unit synopsis

Health and community services are affected by emergencies and disasters. It is critical that managers of these services are able to assess the risk and plan for business continuity. In this unit you will explore the types, nature and impact of disasters and emergencies on communities in local, national and international contexts. You will also apply approaches to disaster risk management and building resilience in health and community services.

Unit synopsis

The theory and practice of clinical optometry procedures form the basis for providing students with a thorough knowledge in all aspects of patient management. This unit involves clinical procedures required to perform advanced investigation of visual problems, including those in paediatric populations, for patients with visual loss, and in the workplace.

Unit synopsis

This unit begins clinical optometric practice in the primary care area within the Optometry Clinic of the Faculty of Health Clinics. Through clinical practice, students will develop specific problem solving strategies, and develop problem specific examination techniques, reinforcing and refining clinical skills developed in the previous units. This unit begins the transfer of theoretical and practical skills to the clinical situation, providing the early basis for transition to professional practice.

Unit synopsis

Contact lenses are an important clinical option for the correction of refractive errors of the eye. This unit lays the foundation for the development of your knowledge and skills in contact lens clinical practice, which you will build upon in future didactic and clinical units in the course.

Unit synopsis

This Unit provides an overview of the different aspects of managing occupational health and safety at an enterprise level. The Unit focuses on various OHS management approaches, the role and requirements of relevant standards and legislation, and major OHS management areas including risk management, safe design and OHS performance, emergency preparedness, investigations, auditing and culture. Furthermore, the Unit emphasises the combination of systematic and systems thinking and the development of resilient organisations

Unit synopsis

Although the association between health and occupation has been recognised for centuries, the extent of the impact of work on health and health on work has not been addressed adequately. As approximately one third of a person's life is spent at work, it is not surprising to note that occupation-linked diseases, injuries, and deaths are receiving greater attention. It is no longer accepted that death, life-shortening, and disablement are an acceptable risk to be faced by working people. This unit focuses on the current and emerging agents in the workplace capable of adversely affecting the health of workers, as well as human response to toxic and imperilling environments. Occupational Health covers identification, prevention and management of risks to health in the workplace, the disease process, occupational rehabilitation and health & wellbeing surveillance, psychosocial health, and management in the workplace.

Unit synopsis

Health Managers require appropriate knowledge, competencies and attitudes to confront the challenges facing the health of modern communities. Acquisition of management competencies can best occur through reflective practice and the application of the theoretical principles that underlie organisational behaviour and the systems, structures and processes that characterise modern healthcare. This unit forms the knowledge and competency basis for contemporary Health Managers and lays the foundation for more advanced management units in the Master of Health Management and Leadership. 

Unit synopsis

Program planning and evaluation is at the core of effective health promotion practice. This Unit will enable you to develop knowledge and understanding of planning models and theories and acquire skills to apply these to design informed programs that address the needs of communities and populations and contribute to positive health outcomes. Evaluation is an integral component of program planning and should be considered throughout the planning process. Recognised frameworks will be introduced throughout this Unit to guide and inform the design of robust evaluations and demonstrate the vital role of evaluation in gathering evidence upon which to make judgements about program effectiveness. Throughout this Unit you will be provided opportunities to build, practice and provide evidence of your analysis and problem-solving skills for the development of a health promotion program and evaluation proposal.

Unit synopsis

This unit builds on existing knowledge, skills and professional experience and provides the opportunity to develop, extend, and apply these skills to the preparation of a feasible and defensible research proposal for a research dissertation. The opportunity to develop skills in advanced information retrieval and synthesis, academic writing, and critical analysis are supported as you review a body of literature relevant to your dissertation and methodology. NSN508 is a preparatory unit for HLN700 or HLN750.

Unit synopsis

There is increasing evidence that the integrity of the environments in which we live are under substantial pressure, particularly from the way we live. The end result of such pressure is that the basic and fundamental prerequisites for human health are threatened. The science of environmental health has always been concerned with the study of the human–environment interface, and now, even more than ever, practitioners are needed who understand not only this link, but also the strategies available to control and minimise risks associated with environmental health challenges, especially in our rapidly warming world. 

Unit synopsis

To successfully manage health, safety and environmental hazards, practitioners need to be able to communicate effectively and select and implement appropriate tools and management strategies to . Recognising and developing leadership skills is also crucial for achieving their full potential in the field, This unit is therefore designed to integrate the theory and practice covered in other environmental health/occupational health and safety units, and equip students with management, leadership and communication tools and strategies that can be applied in a range of contexts.

Unit synopsis

Food is a fundamental human need and a prerequisite to good health. Ensuring that the food we eat is safe is a major function of both government and industry. The food sector is one of the largest industries in Australia, with over 20 billion meals provided each year. Even though the food supply in Australia is one of the safest in the world, government data indicates that each year over 5 million cases of gastroenteritis are believed to be caused by contaminated food (most of these being unreported to health authorities). The aim of this unit is to develop a detailed understanding of food contaminants, food safety principles and legislation and their application so that future health professionals are able to identify and implement processes to ensure a safe food supply and prevent food-borne illness in the community. The material in this unit focuses on food safety regulation, but is also relevant to professionals working in the areas of food service management and nutrition.

Unit synopsis

Legal frameworks, such as the Public Health Act 2005, the Environmental Protection Act 1994, the planning legislation, local laws and other State and local legislation, provide the basis for environmental health and environmental management practice. Skills in interpretation and application of legislation, a thorough understanding of environmental health legislation and the prosecution process is vitally important to the practice of an environmental health professional. These legal frameworks have been developed over many years and aim to protect the health of the community. These frameworks encompass scientific principles for the protection of the public's health, but respond to emerging public issues and perspectives. This unit explores legal and legislative issues, public health and environmental health legislation and the legal issues associated with the administration of public health legislation.

Unit synopsis

Human Factors and Ergonomics is the scientific discipline concerned with the fundamental understanding of interactions among humans and other elements of a system and the application of appropriate theory and methods to improve human performance and well-being with benefits for the overall work system. Ergonomics promotes a holistic, systems approach by considering cognitive, physical and broader factors (e.g., social, organisational and environmental). Knowledge of current methods and techniques commonly used in ergonomics is essential for the occupational health and safety professional to contribute to the design and evaluation of tasks,  work systems, product/service systems and environments.

Unit synopsis

Social workers work with children, young people, and families in many different contexts, requiring a broad range of knowledge and skills. This unit provides you with core knowledge and skills required for working with these groups. This unit uses a multidimensional approach to understanding the experiences and life course of children, young people, and families. Factors which contribute to vulnerability, such as poverty, domestic, family and community violence, and disability are explored. Skills working with diverse families are emphasised. This second year unit of the MSW(Q) builds on the communication and helping process skills developed in SWN004, and draws on the theories introduced in SWN018. Content and skills specifically intersect with mental health curricula in SWN005 and the impacts of colonisation in SWN023.  

Unit synopsis

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities experience significant oppression within the Australian context and consequently are over-represented in many of the fields of practice in which social work is engaged. Social work has contributed to this oppression through its implementation of oppressive policies. For social workers to work in an anti-oppressive manner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples they require an in-depth understanding of colonisation and related oppressive policies and practices, social work's historical role in implementing these policies and practices, contemporary invitations to continue to oppress through practice, and an understanding of how this historical and contemporary context continues to impact on the experiences of many Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Unit synopsis

Research skills are a required competency for Social Workers. Social workers need to have an understanding of relevant social research methods but must also be capable of implementing these methods to produce research outcomes of significance. This is a capstone (final) unit that synthesises the knowledge and skills gained across your degree, in particular your learning in SWN019 Research Skills for Social Work. Within this unit you will design and implement a research project in a rigorous and ethical manner. This research project is a major scholarly endeavour and serves as a critical component of the capstone experience as it assesses the application of your 'whole of course' knowledge, skills and values and aligns with the completion of your final placement and your Professional Learning Plan.

Unit synopsis

All qualified social workers need to appreciate the relevance of research for practice, including meaningful and broadly understood evidence-based practice. Research informs practice decision-making about reach, efficacy and the wellbeing of the organisations in which this takes place. Critical research is also foundational for advocacy and social change. In this unit you will design a research project, focussing on the research proposal. In the subsequent research unit, SWN020, you will build on this learning and carry out a research project using one of three methodologies: systematic literature review; critical reflection; or critical discourse analysis. 

Unit synopsis

This unit builds literacy of a range of theories, models and perspectives relevant to critical social work practice. Power, oppression and privilege are key concepts. An historical overview will be provided to contextualise contemporary social work practices. For example, from the Charitable Organisation Society we have inherited case work, from the Settlement Movement we have incorporated neighbourhood work and community work, and from the Fabians, we considered how to use social policy to address major social problems such as poverty, unemployment and homelessness. With the emergence of alternative and critical influences, such as Marxism, feminism and ant-racism from the 1960s, increasing importance was given to environmental factors influencing the life chances of individuals. From these competing perspectives we must be able to coherently articulate our preferred perspectives with explicit reference to social justice and the AASW Code of Ethics.